(ThyBlackMan.com) Bad breath, musty underarms, stinky feet…even those down-below parts. All of us have the occasional body part that smells less than sweet.
Luckily, there are lots of simple foul-odor fixes, as well as easy ways to detect if it’s time for a doctor visit…
1. Gas
Most fiber-rich foods, including brocoli, beans, and even greens, can make you gassy. In addition, if you’re lactose-intolerant, but couldn’t resist that glass of milk with your cookies…you know where we’re going with this. 
Fix It: Take some Pepto-Bismol or other gas-reducing supplements like Beano. Be sure to take them while eating the offending food item to help control the situation ahead of time. Also, if you’re not moving your bowels regularly, the build-up can lead to excessive gas. To stay regular, be sure you’re getting more fiber and less white flour in your diet. Head to the bathroom at your first urge to go because you might get the signal to move your bowels only once a day.
See you doctor if: Gas is a persistent problem for you – it could be a sign of gallbladder disease (other signs include frequent burping and abdominal pain, especially after eating greasy foods).
2. Feet
When your feet sweat or get wet, bacteria build up and cause odor, says Kelly Geoghan, DPM, a podiatrist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore.
Fix It: Dry your feet well after every shower and be sure to wipe between your toes. If sweat’s your problem, spray your feet with an antiperspirant from the deodorant aisle of the drugstore, Dr. Geoghan suggests. Also, if you can help it, avoid wearing socks and heavy shoes in the
head, if possible. If these methods don’t get rid of the stench, says Geoghan, a prescription-strength roll-on made for body odor can also help.
3. Underarms
Scrubbing your underarms when you shower and using an over-the-counter deodorant should keep armpit odor in check. But some people still seem to have a problem, no matter what they do.
Fix It: If stinky underarms is a problem, you may be an excessive sweater and need a prescription antiperspirant from your doctor, says Dana Simpler, MD, a physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. In extreme-sweat situations, Botox treatments under the arms can help. Dr. Simpler also tells patients who don’t want to use deodorant to soak a cosmetic pad with rubbing alcohol and apply it under their arms. Why? The alcohol kills the bacteria that lead to body odor.
4. Breath
The most common cause of stinky breath? Your diet, says David M. Leader, DMD, an assistant clinical professor at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. Spices, garlic, and onions are known to make your breath smell for hours after you eat them, Dr. Leader says.
Fix It: Brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. If that doesn’t stop the problem, you could have halitosis, which can be caused by bad dental hygiene (bits of food get stuck between your teeth and gums and begin to emit foul odors). Gum disease, dry mouth, and other dental health problems could also be at root, so it’s important to talk to your dentist.
5. Those Down-Below Parts
For the most part, those places shouldn’t have a naturally bad odor — but sweating “down there” can cause a stench (just as it does on other parts of your body).
Fix It: Wash daily with warm water and a mild non-drying soap (but skip the soap near openings). Also, keep the area dry, change your undies as needed and opt for fabrics that breathe, like cotton. If you do have persistent odor, it could mean you have a harmful infection. In addition to an unpleasant smell, infections can also cause discharge, pain, itching, or burning. If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor for treatment. You may also be able to avoid some infections by keeping your blood sugar levels low, Simpler says — at the first sign of a possible infection, cut out sweets, sugar, and soda.
By following the tips above, you’ll be back to your sweet-smelling self in no time!
Written By Violet Smith
